Yesterday,I met a mantraveling down the road.His smile was crooked.
His teeth yellowed by timeand too many cigarettessmoked carelesslyand too close together.His clothes were wornand hung like ragsfrom his rail frame.Yet, the sinew
of once strong muscles remained.And his eyes still helda gleam of humorand the tenderness of many things seenof many timeswhen cold winds had knocked against him,
almost putting him down for good.

But he, always having hope,had risento receive another blowa chuckle in his throata merry robust laugh
that said "You can't get the best of me yet."But on this dayhis eyes held a deep sadnessthe sadness of all that he had lostall that he had longed forall the lovesand weary travels
that had come to nothingeven as his hope had soared.But, he seemed resigned.He seemed solid.And as he opened his mouthto speak to meI realized he had no voiceHe no longer had words
to expressthe joythe sadnessthe longing.For now, in his strongyet battered stateall was one.And there was nothing more to say.

I realized as I stood therejust looking at him
he with his hands in his pockets me in my expensive three-piece suit that somehow there was no differencebetween us.Yet he, for all his losseshad gained a measure of dignityof sureness
of sweet strengththat I did not possess.He seemed made of dusta golden dustthe residue of a life fully livedof energy spent wellof love having been givenat any cost.

Then, suddenly, his eyes seemed on firehis whole body ablaze with some holy energythat soon turned to pure white heatand even more suddenlyhe was gone.

My body trembled.My hands shook.
And when it was overand the road was emptyof his presenceI felt a glow withinas I had never knownan almost transcendent feelingthat I, too, was pure energyenergy of loveof hope
and of something morethan I could ever dare express.I felt whole for the first time.

And somehow I knew that his spirithad entered methat he had given up his lifeto me
and that now his wisdomhis visionhis great compassionlived in me.A great spiritthat dissolved all boundaries.

And I knew then that the lifeI had been livingwas mere follymere illusiona child's lifein adult body.

And so I left the road. I walked away
not knowing yet where I was goingonly knowing that my lifeas it had beenwould be no moreand that the journey aheadwhile unsureand still filled with pebbles,rocks, and giant boulders
to be moved asidewould at last bring me to a quiet placea resting placea place where birds no longer sang.Yet, in the silencethere would be more sweet musicthan I had ever known.

And in that momentas I walked away from the roadas I took off my jacketand slung it almost casuallyover my shoulderI could feel a smilegrowing on my facea lightness in my step
and I cried outI love youI love youI love youand I was happy.